‘Allegations on Mandd Sobhann by KWAA are Baseless’- Gurkar Ozario

‘Allegations on Mandd Sobhann by KWAA are Baseless’- Gurkar Ozario

“The allegations made by Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) on Mandd Sobhann are baseless and false with malicious intentions to cause damage to our image and our cause. All I have to say is that a few disgruntled fringe elements led by HMPernal are making tall claim to represent writers and artistes and have made it their life’s mission to malign, defame and denigrate Konkani activists and also made my organization ‘Mandd Sobhann’-the latest target of their smear campaign. I do realize that it is part of the ideological battle I have been fighting in Konkani, for years now, against the imposition of one variety over others. Our oppressors seem to have found new allies in this terrorizing group. We are contemplating serious action in response – It will be made public soon”- Eric Ozario, Gurkar-Mandd Sobhann

Mangaluru: On the outset I would like to compliment and congratulate Roy Castelino – the Executive member of Mandd Sobhann, and currently the President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Louis Pinto – the current president of Mandd Sobhann, and one of the Founder and backbone of Mandd Sobhann – Gurkar Eric Ozario for their dedication, interest, commitment and sacrifice towards raising the Konkani language to greater heights through music, literature and other activities. A job well done!

Until Mandd Sobhann came on the scene, the concept of identity of Konkani as a culture or in music was never proposed, says the organization web-page. In that sense, Mandd Sobhann has triggered the opening of the floodgates of ‘Konkani-identity-consciousness’. The concept of Mandd Sobhann also came as a shock to the status-quo-loving, conservative Mangalorean Konkani Catholic Community. It also rattled the established music makers. On the other hand, Mandd Sobhann came as a welcome relief to music lovers, poetry enthusiasts and above all, it was able to build bridges between the various dialects, communities, and regions, as all Konkanis began to identify Mandd Sobhann music as their own.

One of the founders of Mandd Sobhann, Eric Ozario, the music composer and the chief proponent of this and all other experiments of Mandd Sobhann, set to tune, lyrics written by poets of different communities and regions and presented them through Mandd Sobhann. In a sense, Mandd Sobhann broke not only conventions but also community barriers. No wonder, therefore, that Mandd Sobhann (the musical performance) was presented quite a few times in the first 2 years in Goa, captured the attention of the media while at the same time inviting the wrath and ire of the conventionalists. What began as a performance titled ‘Mandd Sobhann’, grew into a movement of revival and rejuvenation of Konkani culture; and solidified into an organization called Mandd Sobhann. Today, Mandd Sobhann boasts of all these 3 identities namely – a performance, a movement, and an organization.

The net result of all these efforts of 29 years, was that dying traditions and art forms were revived and entire Konkani culture was rejuvenated. It was as if Konkani got a new lease of life. Thanks to Eric Ozario, the Gurkar now of Mandd Sobhann who has reached this organization to greater heights in promoting Konkani throughout the world. For this reason, alone, Mandd Sobhann is today identified as the custodian of Konkani culture and is credited with having extended the life span of Konkani, in the face of globalization. But like there are always a few apples in a basket, similarly there are always a few members in an organization or a community who try to defame the name of the organization through baseless and false allegations, who either are disgruntled or jealous of a person or persons who have toiled hard to raise the organization to greater heights, thereby bringing name and fame.

As reported in media, Gurkar of Mandd Sobhann-Eric Ozario is facing wrath from members belonging to Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) accusing him of a few wrong doings in the organization, and have also urged the CM to withhold the Rs 2.5 crore grant allotted to Mandd Sobhann, and also to cancel the organization registration as part of the disciplinary action, through a letter submitted through District Commissioner addressed to CM Siddaramaiah. In response to these allegations slapped on him and his organization, Eric Ozario speaking to mangalorean.com has clarified through his statements saying, “The allegations made by Konkani Writers and Artistes Association (KWAA) on Mandd Sobhann are baseless and false with malicious intentions to cause damage to our image and our cause. All I have to say is that a few disgruntled fringe elements led by HM Pernal are making tall claim to represent writers and artistes and who have made it their life’s mission to malign, defame and denigrate Konkani activists and also made my organization ‘Mandd Sobhann’ – the latest target of their smear campaign.”

“I do realize that it is part of the ideological battle I have been fighting in Konkani, for years now, against the imposition of one variety over others. Our oppressors seem to have found new allies in this group. We are contemplating serious action in response – It will be made public soon” added Eric Ozario. Also speaking to mangalorean.com, Louis Pinto, the President of Mandd Sobhann said, “All these allegations made on Gurkar Eric Ozario and Mandd Sobhann are not true and baseless. Eric has been instrumental in promoting Konkani music, literature, art and culture, and he has worked hard to reach this organization to greater heights – and bringing all these false accusations against him is not right. In due time, we too will proceed with our action, thereby to retain the image of Mandd Sobhann from these Konkani activists”.

Long live Mandd Sobhann – which boasts of all these 3 identities namely – a performance, a movement and an organization.

5 Comments

People who can not digest the success of Mandd Sobhann are playing these dirty tricks. This not new as have seen such behavior in several earlier episodes. Instead of uniting Konkani people these so called writers are working towards destruction. Just call them for couple of events and give them chair on stage, garland them and then they will start appreciating. It is getting too much & all konkani people, businessmen and supporters should boycott these so called writers and their leader.

Thank you, dear Eric, for your frank comments, well written and well understood. I have watched from a distance for the past three decades or more, the dedication and efforts rendered by you personally and also your close associates, Roy Castellino and Louie Pinto. Your contribution towards Konkany culture and Konkany music and lyrics is amazingly great indeed. We treat Mandd Sobhann as a “Performing Art Center” in Mangalore and we proudly proclaim this pride with as many westerners we meet and communicate with about our routs and attachment for Mangalore. Some of your future thoughts in expanding Mandd Sobhann for a Museum and many other ideas are indeed admirable. In an ever-growing Konkany society such as ours, there are obviously reasons for few others to express their opinions and comments which we must accept with a compromising mind and also a patriotic heart. Anything good that we propose for our community and our society, there are always opportunities for outside remarks that can be supportive or otherwise, but we must accept them with a positive spirit and seek possible compromises for a lasting solution. Best wishes to you and your supportive group. May God bless you all.

These so called Konkani writers are just hatemongers, who are trying to spit venom on good and hard working Konkani activists who are trying to take Konkani language and culture to the higher level. God bless Eric, Louis and Roy for their efforts towards Konkani language and Konkani people.

Thanks Alfie and Mangalorean.com for highlighting this issue, which was needed at the moment. Long live Konkani and Mandd Sobhann.

They dont represent Konkani writers. Unfprtunately they are only a few fringe elements who play some dirty tricks. Theirs is only a crab mentality. They can not tollerate someone doing good to Konkani. These people have a history of playing such dirty games. They have done lots of harm even to other Konkani workers, writers, artists, associations, and periodicals. They need to be exposed and the action need to be taken against them.

It’s indeed surprising to note that the board members of Mandd Sobhann have kept quiet by not taking any action against these hatemongers who are trying to defame the name of an organization which has done so much for the development of Konkani and its culture/tradition.

Eric and Louis plz step up and charge this group of so called writers who are spoiling the image of Mandd Sobhann and the Konkani community in general. Thanks D’Souza for coming forward and highlighting this issue. God bless u all!